Normalcy returns Odisha Assembly after six days of pandemonium

Bhubaneswar: After being stalled for six days, normalcy returned Odisha to Assembly on Thursday as the agitating opposition Congress and BJP members pinned hopes on the Speaker to re-consider their demand for a debate on the multi-crore chitfund scam in the House.

"We hope the Speaker will re-consider the sentiment of the House and allow a discussion on the chitfund scam without indiscriminately waiting for the advice of the advocate general," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said as his partymen sat silently in their respective seats.

The six-day long pandemonium in the House since beginning of the session of November 20 came to an end and the opposition participated in the demand discussion of the agriculture department.

The logjam in the Assembly continued as the ruling BJD members stalled proceedings since Monday accusing the Centre of neglecting Odisha.

While urging the Speaker to re-consider opposition demand, Mishra pointed out that as the ruling party has also served a notice in favour of a debate on the chitfund issue there should be no objection from the government.

Though the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee on November 22 decided to hold a debate on the chitfund scam, Speaker Niranjan Pujari observed that he was unable to allow the discussion as the matter was sub-judice.

Leader of Opposition Mishra, however, pointed out that Parliament had debated on Black Money issue even though the matter is sub-judice.

Therefore, there should be no hurdle before the Assembly to discuss on the chitfund scam as the Supreme Court has already adjudicated the matter and asked the CBI to probe into the matter, he said.

Earlier during the pre-lunch session today, the House was adjourned till 3 pm as the treasury bench members took their turn in creating noisy scenes in the House at the beginning of the Question Hour slamming the Centre.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Congress members stood up at their respective places tying black clothes on their mouth and waving posters while their BJP peers also wielded placards standing at their seats.